Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Kassel

What people wore

Multipurpose mourning skirt for naps

Until the 1880s, Amager women used a black mourning skirt called a jøb, which they could pull over their heads to hide their grief or, occasionally, to nap during church services.

Getting around

Long stagecoach journeys across Denmark

A journey by stagecoach from Aarhus to Copenhagen in 1863 lasted two and a half days, with the final 15 hours spent traveling through the night.

At the table

The rise of ground meat dishes

Before the late 19th-century invention of the meat grinder, mincemeat was considered a luxury because fresh meat had to be hand-chopped. Once grinders became available, ground beef patties (hakkebøf) and fried meatballs (frikadeller) quickly became affordable everyday staples.

Music

Wedding dances and lively music traditions

During 19th-century weddings, musicians played for dancers from the afternoon until the following morning. Traditional chain dances were common, and musicians were often paid by passing a plate around, sometimes playfully involving items like a wooden shoe to prompt guests to contribute more.

Daily life

Lack of indoor toilets

Toilets were not present inside homes; instead, families used communal sheds in courtyards or on back stairs that emptied into pits.

What it cost

Rising food prices in Copenhagen markets

Between 1839 and 1873, the price of basic food items in Copenhagen increased significantly; for example, the price of a dozen eggs rose from 12 to 36 skillings.